Maybe I love Autumn so much because I was raised in rural
upstate New York. As soon as September hit, the Catskill Mountain air turned
chilly. It was almost as if the earth/nature was breathing a sigh of relief
after enduring the sweltering summer months.
Everywhere I looked I could see nature in full bloom,
autumn-style. Most of the summer flowers were gone, but now the maple trees
came alive and showed off their brilliant yellow, ruby red, rust, and vibrant
orange leaves. This was also the best time of year for everything
apple-related: homemade applesauce, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, apple
crisp, candied apples, and caramel apples; with so many varieties of apples to
choose from: McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Cortland,
Crispin…
September transitioned us into October and all things
Halloween!
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. As a child, I
looked forward to decorating for Halloween, and one of the best places to shop
was a store called Woolworth’s. It was a five and dime store in its heyday (and
has long since gone out of business), but anyone who ever shopped there knows
they had the best decorations and Ben Cooper Halloween costumes.
Back then, Halloween wasn’t as commercialized as today. You
didn’t find SpongeBob vampires, Mickey Mouse ghosts, tv show or movie tie-ins,
and nothing was graphic or gory. The typical decorations featured
Frankenstein’s monster, the mummy, Jack O’Lanterns, black cats, owls, and
ghosts.
I still have some of those original decorations, and over
the years I’ve acquired an extensive collection of “old school” Halloween decor.
I found most of my treasures at garage sales and flea markets, but now there’s
a growing market for “vintage” and “mid-century” Halloween. Antique malls and
flea markets ask outrageously ridiculous prices for things I’ve collected for a
dollar or two.
Since leaving upstate New York I still get outside as much
as I can in October. I read a book under a bright blue sky and relish the color
changes in my oak and maple trees. I don’t mind raking up the leaves because I
get to kick up my feet and wade through the big pile of leaves before I bag
them.
My husband and I visit a state park in October and walk the
trails, enjoying the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, and ending the day with
apple cider and doughnuts. A few weeks before Halloween, we go to a local farm
and buy pumpkins and gourds to put on the porch. At some point, the squirrels
run away with the gourds, but that’s okay. Squirrels preparing for winter are
another sign of the changing season.
On October first, I decorate the outside of the house with lighted plastic (“vintage”) pumpkins, inflatable black cats, ghosts, and lots of orange lights. I’m known as the “Halloween house” on the street, and that’s just fine with me. Kids have walked past the house and exclaimed, “Look at that house! We have to go trick-or-treating there!” I remember doing that at their age.
We carve our pumpkins the weekend before Halloween.
Sometimes our Jack O’Lanterns turn out silly, sometimes scary, but we celebrate
their uniqueness and showcase them on our outside wall. I’ll light them (using
real votive candles) on Halloween eve, Halloween night, and the night after.
Many of the Halloween traditions I carry on were started by
my mother. Every Halloween she would call me and sing “the Halloween song”
about five little pumpkins sitting on a gate. She made up treat bags for the
kids, and gushed over the younger trick-or-treaters dressed like princesses and
pirates.
My mother made sure we had our fill of delicious seasonal
treats: frosted sugar cookies shaped like cats, bats, and pumpkins, chocolate
cupcakes with orange icing and sprinkles, and of course pumpkin bread and apple
cider. I still make those today.
When I answer the door on Halloween night and see the
trick-or-treaters thrilled to be out in costume, free to be whoever they want
for one night, their happiness extends to me. I comment on their pretty, funny,
or spooky costumes as I hand out the candy. I know I’ve done a good job if lots
of kids stopped at the house.
And when the trick-or-treaters are all gone for the night, I sit on the porch for a while, enjoying the quiet. I watch the candles flickering in the Jack O’Lanterns, take in the crisp night air, and gaze at the moon and stars.
I savor this magical night of wonder and excitement, knowing
that Halloween will soon be gone for another year… but the memories last
forever.
Enjoy the season!
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has
published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, and 8 mystery/horror
ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare
readers with her horror and mystery stories.
In August 2024, Kelli released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.
Kelli released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer
Secrets, in April 2024. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a
summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.
She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in
Central NJ, in May 2023.
Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins
and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.
